Working Life Knowledge in Adult Guidance NVL Counselling and Guidance Network Ann-Christine Ringström, Sweden Kai Koivumäki, Finland

Aspects on Working Life Competences in Nordic Counselling Report (2008) is based on NVL Adult Guidance network´s knowledge, experiences, smaller study and reflections Report (2008) is based on NVL Adult Guidance network´s knowledge, experiences, smaller study and reflections Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden Counsellor trainers, practitioners, policy makers, researchers etc. Counsellor trainers, practitioners, policy makers, researchers etc. The aim is to lift up and enlighten counsellors´competences in working life The aim is to lift up and enlighten counsellors´competences in working life

Results Counsellor and guidance training is lacking sufficient working life knowledge Counsellor and guidance training is lacking sufficient working life knowledge The practitioners in the Nordic countries would need better working life competences and they are lacking possibilities to update their working life knowledge The practitioners in the Nordic countries would need better working life competences and they are lacking possibilities to update their working life knowledge

What did we do? Compared and discussed the counselling systems Compared and discussed the counselling systems Defined working life knowledge Defined working life knowledge Compared counsellor training systems Compared counsellor training systems Discussed nationally with adult counsellors in all countries: their experiences and needs Discussed nationally with adult counsellors in all countries: their experiences and needs Discussed the results Discussed the results

Counsellor´s competences Core competence – basic skills and knowledge that are common for all counsellors: ex. theoretical approaches, communication skills, methods etc. Core competence – basic skills and knowledge that are common for all counsellors: ex. theoretical approaches, communication skills, methods etc. Special competences – in this report: ex. working life knowledge and skills Special competences – in this report: ex. working life knowledge and skills

Counsellor´s competences A grown up individual IS his/her experiences and in counselling are his/her inner potential, hidden resources and capacity made visible A grown up individual IS his/her experiences and in counselling are his/her inner potential, hidden resources and capacity made visible Counsellor helps the client to match together his/her potential and competences with labour market and education (short and long term) > working life knowledge is necessary for the counsellor and the client Counsellor helps the client to match together his/her potential and competences with labour market and education (short and long term) > working life knowledge is necessary for the counsellor and the client

What is working life knowledge? Supply and demand of labour Supply and demand of labour Different professions and tasks; how they develope, arise and disappear Different professions and tasks; how they develope, arise and disappear Situation at work places with respect to salaries and required skills Situation at work places with respect to salaries and required skills Legal framework Legal framework How to seek information How to seek information Competence development; at home and abroad Competence development; at home and abroad Link between competence development and work Link between competence development and work CVs and application for work CVs and application for work Recruitment Recruitment Demographic development Demographic development Organisation and structure of labour market Organisation and structure of labour market Dynamics of transition in labour market Dynamics of transition in labour market

Adult Guidance and Counselling in the Nordic countries There are some kind of guidance services in every country but they vary a lot There are some kind of guidance services in every country but they vary a lot Main responsibility either on official education or labour administration: job centres, employment offices, guidance centres, adult education and training, learning centres, labour market organisations etc. Main responsibility either on official education or labour administration: job centres, employment offices, guidance centres, adult education and training, learning centres, labour market organisations etc. There are also some private guidance organisations There are also some private guidance organisations www-services www-services

Counsellor training There is master´s level training since 2008 in all Nordic countries: from whole 5-6 year programmes to one year specialisation programmes There is master´s level training since 2008 in all Nordic countries: from whole 5-6 year programmes to one year specialisation programmes Training often connected to teacher training and pedagogy, Finland has long tradition in psychological counselling Training often connected to teacher training and pedagogy, Finland has long tradition in psychological counselling

Observations about working life knowledge in training Variation concerning working life knowledge in training: quantity and quality varies Variation concerning working life knowledge in training: quantity and quality varies Lack of definition – what is working life knowledge? Lack of definition – what is working life knowledge? Unsystematically organised Unsystematically organised Voluntary in many programmes; if you are interested! Voluntary in many programmes; if you are interested!

Observations about working life knowledge in practice Different clients, different needs: -Adults changing work (voluntary or forced) -Career development and life quality -Unemployed -Highly educated, academics -Immigrants

Observations in practice (cont.) Dilemma to combine the interests of individual and society: labour shortage as base or self fulfilment? Dilemma to combine the interests of individual and society: labour shortage as base or self fulfilment? Information about shortage > < labour market information If counsellor does not have the basic information, difficult to update If counsellor does not have the basic information, difficult to update Lot of information, but incomprehensible Lot of information, but incomprehensible Counsellors work isolated in their own sectors: information needed in all sectors! Counsellors work isolated in their own sectors: information needed in all sectors!

What kind of knowledge is needed: - General development of the economy and within branches, future needs etc. - Employment process (CVs, applications etc.) - Career building; connection between education and work - Validation and qualifications; real, formal and informal competences - Business administration, HRD - Starting up business - Legal framework of labour market Observations in practice (cont.)

Recommendations To develope understanding of the relation between education and work To develope understanding of the relation between education and work Systematic information gathering (clients can not be the only provider!) Systematic information gathering (clients can not be the only provider!) Better www-pages and data banks Better www-pages and data banks More and systematic contacts with companies More and systematic contacts with companies Contacts with labour and employer unions Contacts with labour and employer unions Co-operation between sectors/ministries Co-operation between sectors/ministries Basic and further training Basic and further training